Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Newcastle

Newcastle wins on purchasing power. Newcastle software engineers have £20/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£58,000
£3,683/mo take-home
Newcastle salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Newcastle wins by
+£20
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle

After paying rent, a software engineer in Newcastle retains £20/month more than in Brighton — that's £240/year extra in purchasing power.

+£20
per month
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £58,000
Net monthly £3,683
Rent (1-bed) £1,400
Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched
After rent £2,283
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £750
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,303

Brighton vs Newcastle: what the £20/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Brighton software engineer roles pay £12,000/year more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,683/month versus £3,053/month in Newcastle.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in, Newcastle workers have £2,303/month disposable income versus £2,283/month in Brighton — that is £240/year in real spending power.

Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to Brighton's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Newcastle Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £750 -46%
Transport £80 £75 -6%
Council tax £155 £112 -28%
Groceries £295 £255 -14%
Disposable income remaining £1,613 £1,729 +7%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 61 for Newcastle, a salary of £58,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,150 in Newcastle.

Brighton £58,000 ≈
£43,150
in Newcastle

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Brighton 44%
Newcastle 57%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Newcastle £2.32
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Newcastle £1.79
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Newcastle £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Newcastle £9.76

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Frequently asked questions

Does a software engineer earn more in Brighton or Newcastle? +
Brighton pays a median £58,000 vs £46,000 in Newcastle — a gross difference of £12,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals have £20/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Brighton vs Newcastle? +
In Brighton: gross £58,000£3,683/month net take-home. In Newcastle: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,283/month vs Newcastle's £2,303/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £43,150 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Brighton or Newcastle cheaper to live in? +
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £750/month in Newcastle.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Brighton? +
A software engineer in Brighton earning £58,000 takes home £3,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 38% (stretched). In Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 25%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Newcastle

Afford Brighton on £60,000? Afford Newcastle on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → Newcastle Standard of living: Software Engineer in Brighton Standard of living: Software Engineer in Newcastle

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge